Volleyball debuted in 1964, with both a women’s and a men’s competition, and has been a part of the Olympics ever since. It took the US until 1984 to win the first medals, a silver in women’s volleyball and gold in the men’s competition. The US has only won five medals since that Olympics, gold by the men in 1988 and 2008, bronze by the men and women in 1992, and silver by the women in 2008.
The Team:
The US team is made up of twelve men and twelve women. Each team has five returning players from Beijing and the men have two returners from Athens while the women have four returners.
Links are to twitter accounts for the athletes.
USA Volleyball
Men:
Matthew Anderson
Sean Rooney*
David Lee*
Richard Lambourne*
Paul Lotman
Donald Suxho&
William Priddy**
Brian Thornton
Russell Holmes
Clay Stanley**
David McKienzie
David Smith
Women:
Danielle Scott-Arruda***
Tayyiba Haneef-Park**
Lindsey Berg**
Tamari Miyashiro
Nicole Davis*
Jordan Larson
Megan Hodge
Christa Harmotto
Logan Tom***
Foluke Akinradewo
Courtney Thompson
Destinee Hooker
* – Was on team in Beijing
& – Was on team in Athens
** – Was on team in Beijing and Athens
*** – Was on team in Beijing, Athens, and Sydney
Schedule:
In the Olympics the volleyball competitions take the form of a six-team group stage followed by an eight team tournament. The top four teams in each group will advance.
All times ET
Saturday July 28th
3 PM – USA Women’s Volleyball vs. South Korea
Sunday July 29th
11:45 AM – USA Men’s Volleyball vs. Serbia
Monday July 30th
11:45 AM – USA Women’s Volleyball vs. Brazil
Tuesday July 31st
11:45 AM – USA Men’s Volleyball vs. Germany
Wednesday August 1st
3 PM – USA Women’s Volleyball vs. China
Thursday August 2nd
3 PM – USA Men’s Volleyball vs. Brazil
Friday August 3rd
3 PM – USA Women’s Volleyball vs. Serbia
Saturday August 4th
11:45 AM – USA Men’s Volleyball vs. Russia
Sunday August 5th
3 PM – USA Women’s Volleyball vs. Turkey
Monday August 6th
3 PM – USA Men’s Volleyball vs. Tunisia
Tuesday August 7th
8 AM – 4 PM – USA Women’s Volleyball – Quarterfinals
Wednesday August 8th
9 AM – 4:30 PM – USA Men’s Volleyball – Quarterfinals
Thursday August 9th
10 AM – 2:30 PM – USA Women’s Volleyball – Semifinals
Friday August 10th
10 AM – 2:30 PM – USA Men’s Volleyball – Semifinals
Saturday August 11th
6:30 AM – 1:30 PM – USA Women’s Volleyball – Medal Round
Sunday August 12th
4:30 AM – 8 AM – USA Men’s Volleyball – Medal Round
Past Results:
In Beijing the US men went undefeated and won the gold medal, their first medal in 16 years. They did finish 6th at last year FIVB World Cup, so the pressure will be on for them to try to reach the medal stand again in London. The women won their first medal in 16 years when they won the silver in Beijing, and they kept their momentum up winning the silver at the FIVP World Cup and were the only team to beat the champions, Italy.
The best Olympic finishes from teams in the tournament are:
Men:
Argentina-3rd (1988)
Australia-8th (2000)
Brazil-1st (1992, 2004)
Bulgaria-2nd (1980)
Germany-9th (2008)
Great Britain-1st Olympics
Italy-2nd (1996, 2004)
Poland-1st (1976)
Russia-2nd (1996)
Serbia-5th (2008)
Tunisia-9th (1984)
United States-1st (1984, 1988, 2008)
Women:
Algeria-11th (2008)
Brazil-1st (2008)
China-1st (1984,2004)
Dominican Republic-11th (2004)
Great Britain-1st Olympics
Italy-5th (2004, 2008)
Japan-1st (1964, 1976)
Russia-2nd (2000, 2004)
Serbia-5th (2008)
South Korea-3rd (1976)
Turkey-1st Olympics
United States-2nd (1984, 2008)
